attn: Miss Molly Seagrim

[heartofbirds]

It's past midnight when he arrives outside her room, with which location he is reasonably acquainted, and knocks very lightly upon her door. Although he's dressed, it's less immaculately than usual, and his neatly braided queue is undone and his hair loose at his shoulders. He leans rather heavily on his stick.

Comments

[youngandhealthy]

She's still awake and (perhaps fortunately) alone. Putting on a dressing down, as she's not sure who she's receiving, she comes to answer the door. Her eyes widen when she sees who it is. "...sir?"

[heartofbirds]

Less immaculately is, to be honest, putting it mildly: his shirt is untucked, his waistcoat unbuttoned and swinging freely, and he has no coat and no shoes. "Dear child," he says, with a smile that's half a grimace; and even he and all his self-possession can't hide the fact that he looks old, and exhausted.

[youngandhealthy]

"Sir, sir!" She slips herself under his arm and starts moving him into her room. "What has happened to thee."

[heartofbirds]

"Nothing, really, nothing at all, I am to be honest quite all right--I hope I did not disturb you, child?"

[youngandhealthy]

"Nay, not at all. Come, sit."

[heartofbirds]

"You must forgive me," quietly, as he allows himself to be led.

[youngandhealthy]

"Of course. Here." She settles him in a chair near her bed. "Do ye need a blanket? Tea?"

[heartofbirds]

"Tea would, I think, be a blessing, if you won't go to too much trouble."

[youngandhealthy]

"Nay, no trouble. Sit there." And she moves to put it on, her electric kettle her favorite steal from the kitchen.

[heartofbirds]

<333

Linden settles carefully in the chair and rubs his eyes with his fingertips. With his queue unbound, the grey in his hair is more obvious than ever, and it's hard to remember he's only about twenty-nine.

[youngandhealthy]

"What happened sir? Did someone hurt ye?"

[heartofbirds]

"No, no, nothing like that. I shouldn't, I'm afraid, have even bothered you."

[youngandhealthy]

"Nay, stop it, sir. Ye look a fright, and ye need a rest if nothing more."

[heartofbirds]

"That may be difficult to come by."

[youngandhealthy]

"Why, sir?"

[heartofbirds]

"I--" A pause. "I have very bad dreams."